Relocation in of itself is a very difficult situation to handle, but when the culture of this new location is completely different from the one we are used to, the situation becomes extensively more difficult. Reflection about ones individual culture and identity is crucial when developing the skills needed to become a global citizen. This reflection and eventually understanding of ones own culture allows us to develop an open mind when adapting to a new city or country whether it is for leisure or living. The aspect of American culture that is one of the most prominent to me is the idea of “informality”. Although the idea of informality may not be an aspect of culture Americans first think of, it is one that is present in our everyday lives. Informality can come in various ways, whether it is the constant slang of the everyday language of an American, the clothes we wear on a daily basis, how we introduce ourselves, or simply the egalitarian approach to saying “hello” or “how are you” to a stranger walking by. To an individual from societies where general behavior is more formal, these aspects of American culture can be thought of as strange. For example, an individual from a more formal city like London or Paris may find it strange when they see someone in the aisle of a grocery store wearing their pajama pants with a jacket and sneakers, on the other hand an American would simply walk past them and not even notice what they were wearing, this occurs because in other societies individuals believe that first impressions and the way you present yourself to the public is very important, not because of what others could think of you, but mostly because of their idea to constantly be put together and look goof for themselves, after all that is the culture they were raised in.
Personally, my opinion still stands in the middle for the cultural aspect of informality in America. I believe the way we articulate our words, dress ourselves and treat others is crucial to developing a positive image but formality is not always needed. For example, in countries like England, an individual will rarely respond to a “hello, how are you” in the street, specially if you’re just a strangers. On the other hand, in America, many will respond to this gesture as a simple form of expressing equality or just kindness. In this sense, the informality becomes a positive aspect of culture. Now, if we talk about the aspect of verbal and physical language as well as attire, Americans usually lack formality compared to other cultures.
This exercise prepares me for my time abroad because it allows me to reflect on aspects of American culture that I am now accustomed to and be aware of them while abroad, since some may be seen as an offense by individuals from the new culture I am emerging myself into. The exercise also allows us to have develop an open mind approach and be aware that we will need to learn new forms of carrying ourselves and living that relate to those of the city we are traveling to.